Jack Straw

I'm ready to buy the new wheels and tires. I'm going with staggered AMR wheels from American Muscle but here at the 11th hour I'm thinking I may go with 20".

My ride is stock for the moment but all the usual suspension mods are to come over the spring.

Any personal experience with 19 vs. 20 inch wheels will be appreciated and perhaps considered in my will.........kidding.

05YellowGT

I've run both and gone back and forth between the two, I'm currently running 20" again. The 20" will require a lower side wall, which will give a stiffer ride but better handling. The 19" will allow a taller side wall, which will give a softer ride but not quite as good handling. Depends on what you're looking for. Just a note on the AM wheels, I had a set of the 19" Charcoal wheels and wasn't pleased with the finish on them. Inside the wheel behind the spokes wasn't painted and I would have rust appear every time they got wet. I don't know if all the colors are that way, but the Charcoal was. I wound up giving them to a guy at Steeda when I put a set of their 20" wheels back on.

2k7gtcs

I prefer 20" now because there is more of a selection of tires.

I've had two mustangs with 19s and those same two also had 20s. 20s were easier to find and usually cheaper.

PonyMuscletang13

My experience was complete opposite. I waited 3months on Michelin backorders only to end up different brand. Maybe it was the specific sizes I was going (285/30/20, 305/30/20) but wider it gets more limited tire selection (brands) with 20" wheels.

laserred38

Those sizes aren't the common sizes that Mustang people use though. More common in euro cars. 20s, generally, have way more options than 19s.

OP, I just dropped back down to 19s from 20s, and even though my new wheels are a lot lighter than my old ones, the ride is still pretty stiff. The acceleration got better, but ride didn't change much. I prefer the look of 20s on the 13-14s, and 19s on 10-12. I'd say get whatever you like and can afford, and keep the weight down as much as possible.

2k7gtcs

I'm running 275/35/20 and 305/35/20 front to back

With the 19s I had a heck of a time finding a tire in the 305-315 range width that wasn't noticeably shorter than stock or shorter than the wider front I wanted to use

My other set of 19s I ran a 245/40/19 up front and a 285/35/19 in back which only came in one tire at the time because it was made for C5 vettes I think

2k7gtcs

I guess my moral of the story of my experience was know the wheel before you get the tire and know the tire before you get the wheel

Don't get stuck a 19x8.5 wheel in front and a 19x11 in back and short yourself on trying to make tires work that look right (i.e. Not too short and definitely not where the front is taller than the back, I hate that)

laserred38

Yep, agreed Gary.

Jack Straw

Thanks for the thoughtful replies. I'm leanin' towards the 20" with Mickeys. We always want to get it right the first time but I remember guessing wrong on a BMW Z4 a few years ago.......HAHAHAHA, I went from 17 to 18 to 19. It was an adventure finding a place to keep them all and required some gymnastics of logic to convince my bride I'd not lost my mind.

PonyMuscletang13

Really? Interesting. What I did was picked the liked wheels first, and then searched the widest matching tires that fits on them.

By saying common Mustang sizes, are you referring to the side walls? I know Roush Mustangs got plenty 20" wheels going on, I've seen Stangers running much wider tires than 305's, so it must be the 30-side walls that is more 'Euro' style?

laserred38

Most people that run staggered 20s on Mustangs run 285/35 or 305/35, as those are sizes the places like AM and LMR stock. 275/35 in the rear is another common size.

I ran 265/35/20 and 305/30/20 for a while though. My car was slammed (before the bags) and even the 305/30s rubbed with my offset.

PonyMuscletang13

Hmm. I didn't like the shorter side walls to be honest. But the 305/35 on 20" wheels seemed too tall. I was trying to stay within 27" stock diameter as close as possible.

2k7gtcs

A 19x11 wheel on a stock height suspension even with the best offset will run on the bump stop bracket at the rear when the suspension is completely unloaded even if the car is completely centered when loaded on the panhard bar.

A 20" works better. And it gets even better if the car is lowered. The rubbing occurs at the top of the wheel on the inside. In my stock height 13 Shelby I had to remove the dust boot on the shock with the 19s and the carpet piece in the wheel well that's a sound deadener. But with the car in the air and the wheels down they hot that bracket. There's a relocation kit that will take care of it. But you still have to grind that area down. It's just the way the geometry is back there.

On a 2" lowered 2009 with 20x11 wheels in same offset and it's no issue.

Most people will run a 275 square setup or even if staggered it's rare to go over 305 or 315 and the guys that do it know what they are getting into and remove what's needed.

Jack Straw

Ordered AMR staggered 20" with the Mickey's. I'll get 'em on along with lowering springs and new shocks/struts next week. Pictures to follow. I'm a little bit excited about this.

Jack Straw

OK, 20" AMR staggered wheel/tire package arrived packed nicely and in perfect shape. I spent the day changing struts, dampers, installing the lowering springs and adj. Panhard bar.

I did 25 miles of twisty road this afternoon and a big improvement is obvious. Very quick steering response. These Mickey street comps feel great and the body movement is markedly reduced from stock. Still has a little bit more roll than I want so sway bars are next.

The appearance change from stock is remarkable and EXACTLY what I was hoping for.

Jcreek79

I think you may have helped me clinch my decision for next year's wheels sir. Though im I'm getting the dark stainless cuz I think they'd the best looking for my 05 sonic blue. What tires did you end up going with?

Jack Straw

I chose the Mickey Thompson Street Comps in 20" as a package deal with the AMR wheels. 255/35 front and 275/35. I knew next to nothing about these tires and decided to take a flyer on them They seem fine. No complaints thus far.

Jcreek79

Thank you. I'll probably go with the equivalent, counterpart, the Cooper Zeon RS3-S. But at least the size worked out well for you.

Gigantor

I have a set of 20" staggered MMD wheels. I got them in charcoal because they looked nice but like 05yellowgt said the inside of the rims aren't painted. My rims are less than a year old and have started to rust and pit. When I get a chance I'll probably plastic dip them.

OK back on point, the 20" tires handle great, I would go with 20"s.

Scott2

I went with 20" because of the larger tire selection. Ended up with Vossen CV3-R wheels in gloss graphite and Nitto Invo tires. Rear 20x10.5 with 315/35ZR20 and front 20x9 with 245/40ZR20 front. I guess I could have gone a little wider on the front.